1483 - Erasmus' parents die. He and his brother are put into the care of guardians. Erasmus then begins school at Hertogenbosch at the urge of his guardians.
1487 - Erasmus enters the monastery of the Augustinian Canons Regular at Steyn.
1489 - Erasmus writes the first draft of the "Antibarbarians."
An Embassy sent from Henry VII of England signe a treaty in Spain which negotiates an alliance between England and Spain. It is to be sealed with the marriage of Arthur, Prince of Wales and Catherine of Aragon.
The future Leo X is made a cardinal.
1493 - Erasmus leaves the monastery and becomes secretary to the bishop of Cambrai, Hendrik van Bergen; Erasmus' "Against the Barbarians" is published.
1498 - Erasmus travels to England where he meets Thomas More, John Colet, and the future Henry VIII, who was 8 years old ath the time.
1501 - Erasmus writes "Enchiridion," and "On Moral Duties" is published.
1502 - Erasmus moves to the university town of Leuven.
Arthur, Prince of Wales, dies.
1505
Martin Luther enters the monastery of the Augustinian monks at Erfurt.
1507 - Erasmus moves to Siena, Italy where he meets the future Pope Leo X, Giovanni de' Medici.
Martin Luther begins his theological studies & is ordained a priest.
1509 - Erasmus' "Enchiridion" is republished.
Luther becomes a Biblical Baccalaureate.
Henry VIII weds Catherine of Aragon. Henvry VIII is crowned King of England and Catherine of Aragon is crowned Queen of England.
1516 - Erasmus' New Testament is published.
1517 - Erasmus writes to Leo X: "If ever there was a golden age, then there is good hope that ours will be one."
Martin Luther's "95 Theses" is nailed on the church door in Wittenberg, marking the beginning of the Reformation.
1518 - Erasmus begins to write letters back and forth with Miartin Luther.
Martin Luther's "Resolutions Concerning the 95 Theses" appears; Luther dedicates it to Leo X.
The new papal decree on indulgences is published. Luther can no longer argue against indulgences without arguing against the pope's authority.
1519 - Erasmus sends a letter to Frederick the wise informing him of the discontent of the University of Louvain against Luther. He asks for the protection of Luther.
1521 - Erasmus moves to Basel where he will remain until 1529.
Luther receives an invitation to the Diet of Worms.
At the Diet of Worms, Luther states the famous words, "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen."
1524 - Erasmus' "The Free Will" and new edition of the "Colloquies" appears.
1526 - The Sorbonne condemns Erasmus' "Colloquies."
Martin Luther's books are burned in England.
Henry VIII begins his plans to divorce Catherine by declaring that Henry and Catherine's marriage is invalid on the grounds that she had been married to Henry's brother, Arthur.
1530 - Erasmus is unable to attend the Diet of Augsburg due to his poor health.
1534
King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the church in England.
1535 - Erasmus is secretly offered the cardinal's hat by Pope Paul III but declines.
The Council of Two Hundred in Geneva abolishes the Catholic mass.
Timeline